Hello, my beautiful Bermuda family. This week’s column is more personal and vulnerable than previous articles. Over the past weekend, I shared with my aunt Lisa Matthie words of encouragement that I received from the Lord when I was having a vulnerable moment in prayer. She then encouraged me to share those words in my column, as others may find them comforting.

The climate we are living in at the moment provides many opportunities to worry about the consistency of security, with the political climate in the United States, multiple wars worldwide, living expenses continuing to rise, and the turbulence in our government and society.

It is easy to walk down the path of “how will I?” in our minds. How will I afford this expense this month? How will I raise my children in these days? How will I feed my children healthy food? How will I start a garden to offset these grocery costs? How will I push through another day mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually?

I don't know about you, but these questions have run through my mind, and in a recent moment of vulnerability, asking God these types of questions in prayer, he gave me two simple lines.

I provide for the birds of the sky, I will provide for you; don't cry;

I provide for the beaver and the bear, I will provide for you don't fear.

Those simple lines led me to scripture full of the promises of comfort and provision, which reminded me how God has always made way for me, and this season will be no different.

God does not promise easy or struggle-free. He promises that He will never leave or forsake us and will provide – in ways we may not imagine or expect, through people, avenues, or opportunities we could not see coming.

Over the past week, God has expanded on those two simple lines He placed in my heart, but before I share them with you, I will share portions of scripture that have brought comfort to me in those vulnerable moments.

One is from Matthew 6: 25-34 (English Standard Version): “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

“For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Another supportive passage is this one, from Philippians 4:12-13 (New Living Translation): “Whatever season of life you are in. Or whatever questions or concerns are in your mind. If you are feeling the pressure of life and the temptation to participate in despair creeps in, I pray that you are reassured by the reality that you have a Heavenly Father who can provide for you.

“I pray that He blesses the work of your hands and provides you with comfort and peace beyond understanding, the same that Paul had when he said, ‘I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learnt the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.’”

Finally, I leave with you the poem I wrote that I believe God placed in my heart, God Provides:

God provides for the birds of the sky, He will provide for you don't cry

God provides for the beaver and the bear, He will provide for you don't fear

God provides for the mouse that scurries, He will provide for you don't worry

God provides for all of nature, so do not panic about your future

The God who numbered the stars and grains of sand is the God who holds you in his hand

So when you're tempted to despair, remember that God cares

You are the apple of His eye and can trust that He will provide.

With love and blessing,

Chelsea.